Improvement in music-racks



H. WARNER.- Music-Rack.

No. 201,3l4. Patented March 12, I878.

'N-PEI'ERS, PHOTO LITHOG AFHE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY WARNER, OF EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN MUSIC-RACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,314, dated March 12, 1878; application filed May 7, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY WARNER, of East Boston, Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Music-Racks for Pianos, Organs, 850., of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to provide a neat and convenient rack to hold books or sheet-music open in an upright position.

My invention consists in an ornamental metallic frame or rack, pivoted upon feet adapted to be secured to the instrument, and provided with stops to hold it in position, said rack having laterally-adjustable arms secured upon it, for the purpose of retaining the leaves.

It also consists in the combination of a pivoted rack and adjustable arms with the clamping mechanism hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved rack. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the clasps. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of same through line as.

A is the frame or rack, preferably of iron, cast in some appropriate artistic form, and finished by nickel-plating. It is pivoted, at points B B, to suitable feet 0 O, which are secured to the instrument, and are so arranged with relation to the rack A as to permit it to drop forward into a horizontal position, and to turn upward on its hinges, say, one hundred degrees, so as to lean slightly backward from a vertical line to hold the book at a proper angle. The simplest means of accomplishing this is shown in the drawing, where the lower edge D of the rack meets a stop, E, formed upon the foot, or extending from one foot to the other. Similar stops may be used to prevent the rack from falling forward, so as to rest directly upon the instrument, and to hold the lower edge of the book in position.

At each side of the rack I provide a clasp or arm, F, adjustable laterally by means of a slot, G, and set-screw H, so that the arms may be secured upon the rack at any given distance from each other. I have devised a convenient arrangement of the sliding clasps, which is fully illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Each clasp is secured to a block, I, which works in the slot G, and has a projecting flange, t, bearing against the front of the rack. The set-screw H passes through the flanged block I, and a groove, h, near the point of the screw, receives a thin plate, K, slotted for the purpose, and screwed to the back of the block I, which tapers slightly toward the screw H. This screw therefore serves to pinch the rack in the vicinity of the slots between the flange i and plate K, so as to hold the block I and the clamp firmly to the rack, or permit their adjustment thereon when the screw is slackened.

The slotted plate K, secured in its position,

as shown, prevents accidental displacement of the screw H, since it cannot be unscrewed too far until the plate is removed.

The clasp F may be a mere arm projecting rigidly from the block I, to hold the book open. I prefer, however, to pivot it, as at L, and to arrange a spring, M, to press it downward upon the leaves, so that the book may be inserted and removed without sliding the clasp in the slot. This action is facilitated by inserting a small wheel or roller, N, at the end of the finger F.

I do not deem it necessary to describe any of the modified forms or varied designs in which my invention may be reproduced, but leave such details to the skill of the manufacturers.

I claim as my invention 1. A music-rack consisting of a single ornamental plate, pivoted upon feet secured to the instrument, and provided with stops to hold the rack in position, in combination with retaining-arms, adjustable laterally upon the rack by means of slots and clamping-screws, substantially as set forth.

2. The clamping mechanism herein described, consisting of the flanged block I 2', plate K, and set-screw H, in combination with the rack A and adjustable arm, F, substantially as set forth.

HENRY WARNER.

Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, W. H. H. ANDREWS. 

